"Michael A. Stackpole - Battletech - Mechwarrior - Dark Age 12 - Hunters Of The Deep" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stackpole Michael A)

The cableтАЩs length required the DropShips to spin up at a glacial pace, or his tangling top image would
prove all too accurate. The experiment should have bored Petr, but the scientistsтАЩ ability to be
mesmerized by the minute shifting of objects hundreds of kilometers distant kept him enthralled. The
minutes ticked into hours as the DropShips showed visible movement. Petr still did not understand the
technology, but he did understand the potential of such technology.

A little more than four hours after the experiment began, a terrible Klaxon began to blare, demanding
immediate attention. Petr quickly found the monitor displaying the warning, but he could not make sense
of the information cascading across the screen.

тАЬScientist Kif, what has occurred?тАЭ Anger began to burn as the scientist ignored his question. As he
opened his mouth to demand an answer, Jesup laid a hand on his shoulder.

тАЬThey have enough to worry about, ovKhan. Let them work,тАЭ Jesup advised.

His aideтАЩs serious tone jarred him more effectively than harsh words. Petr nodded his understanding.
There would be enough time for trials later.

Another handful of minutes passed as the scientists moved at what could have been light speed in their
attempt to rectify the problem. In the exterior views, Petr could make out the blazing plumes of attitude
jets firing on all four DropShips; they were trying to stop the spin, and quickly.

He clenched his fists, the biting pain of his nails digging into his flesh keeping his anger at bay. Petr rarely
sat on the sidelines, unable to affect unfolding events. The forced inaction scraped his nerves and mashed
him flat with suppressed rage.

Finally, even Petr could see the problem: one of the cables was oscillating. Where the movement
originated or why it had begun didnтАЩt matter at the moment. What mattered was that, as the vibration
undulated up and down the cable, one of theMule s began to swing as the energy peaked. The interior
view of theInvader leaped and the entire ship shuddered as the sine wave slammed into it; the horrific
energies built.

Despite firing the attitude jets, they would not stop the experiment in time.

Petr stepped forward and Jesup grasped his arm once more. He wrenched his arm away and spun
toward his aide, eyes blazing.

тАЬThere is nothing to be done,тАЭ Jesup stated simply. тАЬLet them salvage what they can. After all, there will
be a lot to salvage.тАЭ

Petr allowed himself to be calmed, and they turned to watch the conclusion, as inevitable and
unavoidable as the tides.

The views of the exterior began to shift as the shuttles obeyed orders to remove themselves from near
space. Twin shuttles launched from theInvader , carrying away the few personnel on ship.

The energy in the cables continued to crescendo exponentially until the cable began whipping the
DropShip at its end back and forth, like a frustrated child banging that long-ago-seen top on the ground.
The destructive energy bled into the other three cables until all four wove a pattern that could not last.